1 research outputs found
A comparison of patientsâ and physiciansâ assessments of disease activity using the Swedish version of the Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire
<p><b>Objectives</b>: We compared patientsâ assessments of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease activity by a Swedish version of the Systemic Lupus Activity Questionnaire (SLAQ) with physiciansâ assessments by the Systemic Lupus Activity Measure (SLAM) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). We also explored the performance of the SLAQ in patients with short (< 1 year) versus long (â„ 1 year) disease duration.</p> <p><b>Method</b>: Patients filled out the SLAQ before physiciansâ assessments. Correlations between SLAQ total, subscales (Symptom score, Flares, Patients global) and SLAM and SLEDAI-2K, as well as between the corresponding items in SLAQ and SLAM, were evaluated using Spearmanâs Ï. Comparisons between patients with different disease durations were performed with MannâWhitney U or chi-squared tests.</p> <p><b>Results</b>: We included 203 patients (79% women), with a median age of 45 years [interquartile range (IQR) 33â57 years] and disease duration of 5 years (IQR 0â14 years). Correlations between physiciansâ SLAM without laboratory items (SLAM-nolab) and patientsâ assessments were: SLAQ total, Ï = 0.685, Symptom score, Ï = 0.651, Flares, Ï = 0.547, and Patients global, Ï = 0.600. Of the symptom items, fatigue (Ï = 0.640), seizures (Ï = 0.635), and headache (Ï = 0.604) correlated most closely. Neurology/stroke syndrome, skin, and lymphadenopathy correlated less well (Ï < 0.24). Patientsâ and physiciansâ assessments were notably more discordant for patients with short disease durations.</p> <p><b>Conclusion</b>: We confirm that the SLAQ can be used to monitor disease activity. However, the discrepancy between patientsâ and physiciansâ assessments was greater for patients with short versus long disease duration. We encourage further use of the SLAQ, but would like to develop a shorter version which would be valuable in modern, partly web-based, clinical care.</p